Israel Matzav

Sticking point on 'settlement freeze': Obama won't put it in writing

Based on a report by Shimon Schiffer in the Hebrew daily Yedioth Aharonoth, fellow Israeli blogger Arlene Kushner reports what is apparently the main sticking point (other than length) in the negotiations over a 'settlement freeze.'

Shimon Schiffer, in Yediot Ahronot today, says the US wants a two year freeze because Obama figures that's how long forging a peace deal will take (in his dreams).

Netanyahu, says Schiffer, is offering three months, with Israel retaining the right to start building again after that if the Arab states haven't made their appropriate gestures of normalization.

...

Both Netanyahu and Barak (who reportedly would accept a six-month freeze) want the deal in writing, since Obama claimed there was no deal with Bush that had to be honored because there was nothing that was an explicit written commitment. Obama is said to be balking at this as he doesn't want to go on record as formally authorizing building in the settlements under any conditions.

Rick Richman notes:

This is what happens when you renege on established oral understandings on the grounds they are “unenforceable.” People fear that an oral agreement with you isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.

But recall that President Bush's commitment to Prime Minister Sharon was written.

There is an inherent danger even in a written deal if it involves tangible steps in exchange for promises from someone who cannot be trusted to fulfill them. Israel took irreparable steps in Gaza, withdrawing every settler and soldier, in reliance on the 2004 Bush letter—which was explicit and unambiguous—and has watched the Obama administration repeatedly refuse to acknowledge the letter as binding.

So before relying on a new presidential commitment, Israel may want to see if Obama will affirm the prior one. The ultimate issue may not be oral versus written promises but a more fundamental problem. Charlie Brown’s unfortunate experiences with Lucy were probably not due to the lack of a written pledge about her field-goal commitment.

It may take years for America's credibility to recover from Barack Obama. Who will trust an American commitment after seeing what this President has done?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:15 PM